Cyktjs libby



(No Model.)

0. LIBBY.

SHOE.

No. 331,146. Patented Nov. 24, 1885.

N. PETERS Pholmlithogmpher. \V-uhingkcm D. c.

IINITED- STATES a'rn'r CYRUS LIBBY, OF AUSTIN, ILLINOIS.

SHOE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 331,146, dated November 24, 1885. Application filed September, 1885. Serial No.175,961. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OYRUs LIBBY, of Austin, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Shoes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompahying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to shoes of that class which are high enough to embrace the ankles, and it is more particularly intended for use in ladies boots or gaiters.

The invention consists in the matters hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view from the back side of the shoe, the vertically-divided top being unlaced and the lapel which folds about the back of the ankle being turned forward to show more plainly the interior construction. Fig. 2 is a side elevation (inside View) of the shoe partly laced. Fig. 3 is a side elevation (outside View) of the shoe, with the lapel drawn around the ankle as when laced, and also showing the instep-lapel unfastened and raised.

In a former patent, No. 189,476, granted to me April 10, 1877, the outer ankle portion is shown divided vertically in the rear from the top down to the counter, and thence forward and horizontally on each side to points, opposite about the front of the heel, the two lapels thus formed being fastened to'each other at the rear over an inner back ankle-piece and side elastic gores. The shoe or gaiter thus constructed is not well adapted to ladies use.

In the present invention the ankle-extension is vertically divided at one side, and but a single lapel is present therein, being formed by a horizontal division of the said ankle-extension running from the lower extremity of the said vertical division around the back to the opposite side. There is, as shown, an inside back ankle-piece continuous with the counter, and also vertically shallow gores, which are desirably, though not for all purposes of my invention necessarily, employed to connect the said back ankle-piece with the upper in front thereof.

Referring to the drawings for a better unlapel B on the outside of the shoe, and, as

shown, has a flap, e, attached thereto on the inside, which projects beyond the vertical free edge 6 thereof, and underlies the laced or buttoned vertical joint at which the lapel meets the edge of the front E. The elastic gores D are desirably present because they operate to make a snug fit about the ankle, and also to keep the upper drawn back smoothly upon the instep. Their mode of attachment is obvious from the drawings, being there shown as stitched to the front edge of the back anklepiece, 0, and let into a slit through the lining of the front portion of the upper and stitched, as shown, both on this vertical edge and 011 the lower edge, which is similarly confined between two thicknesses of the upper. If employed, the gores Dneed be only, say, an inch or so in height, though, if preferred, they may be higher orlower, or they may be lower at the front than at the'rear. The counter A is preferably only high enough to admita proper stiffening, to facilitate putting on the shoe and removing it from the foot.

Constructed substantially as shown and above described,the shoe presents asmooth surface at the rear and one free from fastenings at this point, which would either mar its appearance or would be likely to catch upon the garments of the wearer. For these reasons it is particularly adapted for ladies use. The ankle portion of the shoe being side-laced or buttoned, may, of course, by such means be adjusted to the ankle.

To adjust the upper to the foot over the instep, I prefer to provide a slit therein, running from the forcing or a point over or a little above the ball to apoint at or near the anklecurve, and a flap with buttonholes in its free edge covering this slit and engaging with buttons, the position of which may be changed, as is now often done in button-boots. This construction is shown in Figs. 1 and 3,wherein F is the flap, f the slit, and f the buttons.

This flap will, of course, be unbuttoned only when itis desired to change the position of the buttons, the side openings being relied on for putting the shoe off and on;

I do not restrict myself to the use of any particular kind of fastening for the side opening of the shoe nor to the exact details in other particulars of construction.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, with a shoe-top which is vertically divided on one side from a point at or near the counter upwardly, and is horizontally divided from the lower extremity of said vertical division to apoint on the opposite side of the shoe, of a rear underlying anklepiece which rises from the counter and side gores attached at their rear margins to said ankle-piece and at their front margins to the shoe-top, one in front of the vertical division portion divided vertically elsewhere than at the front, avertical slit located over the instep, an external lapelattached to the upper at one side of said slit and covering the slit and buttons on the opposite side of the upper for engaging the free edge of the lapel, substantially as described. a

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CYRUS LIBBY. Witnesses:

M. E. DAYTON, J EssE Cox, Jr. 

